Outstanding employers across the region have been recognised for their performance in the first East African employer attractiveness report, with P&G picking up the coveted top award for as Careers in Africa East Africa Employer of Choice, ahead of Ethiopian Airlines, who were the winners in two other categories.

Nairobi, Kenya: 8 September 2016 – The East African leg of the Talent Agenda Series event, produced by Global Career Company, hosted the first East African Careers in Africa Employer of Choice Award last night, with a series of awards presented to employers who have excelled in ten categories across multiple employer attractiveness criteria.

The East African Careers in Africa Employer of Choice Awards are the first East African employer attractiveness awards voted entirely by the East African talent pool itself. Using data gathered from Careers in Africa Employer of Choice, a survey featuring the views of more than 13,000 African professionals.

The awards methodology takes company ratings provided by prospective employers across 29 attraction drivers, asking talent to grade organisations against all drivers. This makes the receipt of a Careers in Africa Employer of Choice Award a prestigious honour, as the awards are both voted by talent, and comprised from a wide variety of data points.

Rupert Adcock, Managing Director of the Global Career Company, said of the Awards

“It is fantastic to see employers in East Africa being recognised for their impact in the talent pool. The human capital challenges facing East Africa, and the wider continent, will be solved by employers delivering great things for their current and future talent.”

In the Study behind the Awards, Global Career Company with support from professional services company Willis Towers Watson, found significant information on the attraction drivers which matter to East African talent, with reward, learning and development, and leadership all featuring.

Yves Duhaldeborde, Director at Towers Watson comments: “This research adds a great deal to the debate on how we compensate workers in Africa. Employers need to look at how to incentivise their workforce through initiatives that encourage new skills and promote opportunities to make a difference to the organisation. “

These findings are echoed across the African diaspora community, suggesting the important factors African employers must consider, to attract individuals back to country of birth once they have left to work overseas.

Sarah Roe comments “An increasing number of African employers are looking to the diaspora to help close the talent gap and provide a source of internationally experienced professionals. A key concern, alongside cultural fit is whether expectations of the diaspora particularly in terms of pay, benefits and speed of promotion, can be matched. However, the research clearly shows that such factors are not of central importance to this group.”

Covering the full spectrum of training and development, this prize recognises those employers seen to set the standard in providing their employees with the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential and take their careers to the next level.

Winner: Centum Investment

Runner Up: P&G

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

The ability of a company’s leadership to stand out as a provider of decisive, intelligent and clear direction has clear links to team happiness and performance. This award recognises those employers whose senior leadership and management structures are seen by the talent pool as the strongest on the continent.

Winner: Deloitte

Runner Up: Centum Investment

CSR EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

This award acknowledges the work done by African employers in demonstrating that their business makes a positive and lasting effect on the world around them. In fast growing markets where development goes hand in hand with corporate success, this award recognises the ability of its nominees to be seen delivering beyond their commercial targets.www.talentagendaseries.com

Winner: Safaricom

Runner Up: East African Breweries Ltd

REWARD EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

The award for those seen to lead the way in terms of the compensation and benefts they provide to their employees. From base salary to retirement, from short term perks to stock awards, factoring in the degree of choice and ﬂexibility provided, this prize recognises the African employer whose reward programmes are meeting the demands of the African talent pool.

Winner: Ethiopian Airlines

Runner Up: Microsoft

WOMEN’S EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

Diversity of the talent pipeline at the attraction stage is inextricably linked to diversity of the workforce. Some employers are more successful than others in creating and communicating a value proposition for female talent. These nominees are the most successful.

Winner: Bamburi Cement (LafargeHolcim)

Runner Up: Microsoft

GRADUATE EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

This award recognises employers who are successful in creating and promoting a value proposition which appeals to graduate talent.56 | Global Career Company - Nairobi 2016

Winner: East African Breweries Ltd

Runner Up: KPMG

GLOBAL ATTRACTIVENESS EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

With more African businesses than ever viewing talent based outside Africa as a critical segment, the ability to attract this group can be a differentiator in a competitive talent market. This prize, combining all motivating factors, is based on data from only those professionals currently based outside Africa, with an emphasis on what matters most to them.

Winner: World Bank Group

Runner Up: Tullow Oil

LOCAL ATTRACTIVENESS EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

The majority of talent hired by African businesses is locally based. This category recognises employers who demonstrate the ability to attract this segment most effectively.

Winner: Ethiopian Airlines

Runner Up: P&G

IMPACTFUL BRAND EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

While most categories in these awards are decided by an average rating, this award recognises pure popularity by nominating those employers most often cited as organisations talent would like to work for.www.talentagendaseries.com

Winner: World Bank Group

Runner Up: African Development Bank

EAST AFRICAN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE

Our top award recognises the employer who is highest rated of all by the East African talent pool. More than 500 brands were considered, five have been nominated, one will be crowned East African Employer of Choice.